How good is Idaho prep football? We’re about to find out in battle vs. Oregon, Washington

Hypothetical debates serve as the heartbeat of sports. But one argument — how Idaho high school football stacks up — will find an answer this weekend.

Four of Idaho’s top programs take on powerhouses from Washington and Oregon on Friday and Saturday in the inaugural Northwest Showdown at Rocky Mountain. The showcase features a mountain of college prospects from eight teams that combined to win 14 state championships in the past 11 seasons.

Rocky Mountain battles Chiawana (Pasco, Washington) in the Friday opener, followed by Rigby vs. Moses Lake, Washington, at 8 p.m. Saturday’s slate features Eagle vs. West Linn, Oregon, at 11 a.m., and then Highland against Summit (Bend, Oregon) at 2 p.m.

But those aren’t the only major matchups on tap this weekend.

MOUNTAIN VIEW AT MERIDIAN

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

Broadcast: NFHSNetwork.com

First we have to start with the top 6A SIC matchup of the week. Meridian has ended the Mavericks’ season three years in a row, including a one-point win in last year’s quarterfinals, setting the stage for a grudge match.

Mountain View (1-0) hit the road to Pocatello and rallied for a 24-21 win over Woods Cross, Utah, last week. Quarterback Hank Nelson threw for two touchdowns as the Mavs erased an 11-point deficit in the third quarter. But perhaps most impressive was Mountain View’s defense, which held a vaunted triple-option team in check with just one returning starter from a year ago.

Meridian will try to avoid a second straight 0-2 start after a 28-13 loss to Eagle last week. The Warriors struggled offensively, scoring just seven offensive points and finishing with 162 total yards. But don’t expect that to become the norm with four-year starting quarterback Zeke Martinez at the helm.

Prediction: Meridian 27, Mountain View 22

CHIAWANA AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN

Kickoff: 5 p.m. Friday

Broadcast: KTVB.com, KTVB+ app

Settle in for a battle of two defensive stalwarts to kick off the Northwest Showdown.

No. 2-ranked Rocky Mountain’s exploits on that side of the ball stretch back years, and it put together a dominant showing in Week 1 with a 53-14 beatdown of Kuna that included two defensive touchdowns. Most surprising though were the numbers put up by quarterback Austin Rovig, who threw for 313 yards and four TDs. The Grizzlies (1-0) struggled at that position last fall. A solid option there combined with six Division I prospects will carry Rocky Mountain a long way this season.

This marks the season opener for Chiawana, which went 9-2 last fall in the Tri-Cities area. First-team all-state linebacker Cooper MacPherson returns to lead a defense that gave up just 12.2 points per game last fall for the Riverhawks, who captured at least a share of the league title for the fifth time in the past six years.

Prediction: Rocky Mountain 22, Chiawana 14

RIGBY VS. MOSES LAKE

Kickoff: 8 p.m. Friday at Rocky Mountain

Broadcast: KTVB.com, KTVB+ app

No. 5-ranked Rigby (1-1) heads to the Treasure Valley in their quest to lead the state in miles traveled again. A season-opening trip to No. 1 Coeur d’Alene resulted in a 24-14 loss thanks to three turnovers. But the Trojans righted the ship with a 48-27 win over Wasatch, Utah, in Pocatello a week ago as junior quarterback Jake Flowers threw for 250 yards and two TDs.

Moses Lake (0-0) stands as the next challenge. The Mavericks went 8-2 a year ago, scoring 39.9 points per game behind then-sophomore quarterback Brady Jay. He threw for 3,251 yards and 48 touchdowns and enters the Northwest Showdown as its most decorated quarterback.

Prediction: Rigby 35, Moses Lake 28

EAGLE VS. WEST LINN

Kickoff: 11 a.m. Saturday

Broadcast: KTVB.com, KTVB+ app

The Northwest Showdown’s marquee matchup comes Saturday morning, creating a college-level feel for a game full of college-level talent.

West Linn enters as the preseason favorite in Oregon’s top classification with six all-state selections returning after making the state semifinals. That group includes tight end Baron Naone, the state’s top recruit and a Washington commit; offensive lineman Jake Normoyle, a three-star recruit committed to Oregon State; and sophomore defensive back Josiah Molden, who is already rated a four-star prospect.

The No. 3 Mustangs (1-0) don’t have as many stars next to their names. Offensive linemen Sione Perkins and Nate Williams are Eagle’s top college recruits with multiple Big Sky offers. But Eagle returns largely intact after a 10-1 season and already has a game under its belt.

Prediction: West Linn 24, Eagle 17

HIGHLAND VS. SUMMIT

Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday at Rocky Mountain

Broadcast: KTVB.com, KTVB+ app

Defending state champ Highland figured to take a step back this fall after losing all 22 starters to graduation. But the No. 4-ranked Rams quickly put that thought to rest with a 2-0 start, including a season-opening win over Legacy, a defending Nevada state champ.

Summit, a state champ two years ago from Bend, got its season off to a rough start last week. The Storm fell into a 35-0 hole before losing 35-12 to Silverton, Oregon’s top-ranked team in its second-largest classification.

Prediction: Highland 30, Summit 22